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Notable captains of industry and eminent elder statesmen Thursday donated over N17 billion to the IBB Presidential Library Foundation, to be built in Minna, Niger state.
They announced the donations at the public presentation of former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s autobiography – ‘A Journey in Service’.
On the list of high donors at the fundraiser, organised by the Foundation, were leading Africa’s wealthiest individuals, including Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and General Theophilus Danjuma.
Leading the pack was Dangote who announced an N8 billion donation to be paid in N2 billion instalments annually over four years.
Describing Babagida as the architect of Nigeria’s private sector, Dangote praised the former military ruler for his transformative policies during his regime, which he said, liberated the private sector and laid the foundation for Nigeria’s economic growth.
“Your Excellency, you were the architect of the private sector in Nigeria. Your policies, such as the abolition of import licences and the issuance of banking licences, enabled Nigerian businesses to thrive. Today, the private sector contributes 85% of Nigeria’s GDP, while the government contributes only 15%,” he said.
The world’s 86th richest also pledged to continue his annual contributions of N2 billion if the library project extends beyond the initial four-year timeline.
Similarly, Chairman BUA Group and co-launcher of the book, Abdul Samad Rabiu, donated N5 billion to the project, while the founder and Chairman Emeritus of the TY Danjuma Foundation, General Theophilus Danjuma, announced a pledge of N3 billion.
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